Boat steering mechanism



Aug. 21, 1962 A. J. ATKESON BOAT STEERING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1961 g- 1962 A. J. ATKESON BOAT STEERING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1961 ite tea The present invention relates to a boat, and more particularly to a boat having an outboard motor mounted thereon, and the present invention provides a novel and improved means of steering the boat by causing pivotal movement of the outboard motor from a remote location.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a boat steering mechanism wherein an outboard motor which is mounted on the transom of the boat can be steered or pivoted from a remote location, as for example by turning a steering wheel which is mounted adjacent to the dashboard of the boat so that the pivotal movement of the motor about a vertical axis can be used effectively and conveniently to steer the boat through the water.

A further object is to provide a boat steering mechanism that includes a gear unit that is adapted to be actuated by a suitable manually operable means such as a steering wheel, and wherein there is provided a means for operatively connecting the gear unit to an outboard motor mounted at the rear of the boat so that it is not necessary fora person operating the boat to sit in the rear of the boat and move the motor or rudder in order to steer the boat since the steering can be readily accomplished or effected by conveniently turning a steering wheel or hand control knob which is adapted to be arranged in a convenient location such as adjacent the front portion of the boat.

Another object is to provide a boat steering mechanism of the type stated which is adapted to minimize errors productive of wasted labor and material in the formation thereof, and wherein the boat steering mechanism of the present invention can be used conveniently and with precision by even inexperienced operators.

Further objects and advantages of the invention are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that is economical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will become ap parent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a boat provided with the steering mechanism to the present invention, and with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view illustrating the boat steering mechanism per se, and with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates a boat which includes the usual bottom 21 and the boat may be provided with seats such as the seats 22 and 23, and the boat 20 is also adapted to include various other accessories such as a windshield 24 as Well as a dashboard 25 which may be arranged adjacent the front portion 26 of the boat 20. The numeral 27 indicates the usual transom of the boat, and the numeral 28 indicates a conventional outboard motor or engine which is mounted for pivotal movement on the transom 27, so that for example by pivoting the motor 28 about a vertical axis, the boat 20 can be steered through the water such as the water 32. The motor 28 is adapted to be connected to the transom 27 as for example by means of a clamp or bracket 30 which is adapted to be provided with the usual pres sure screw member 31.

As shown in the drawings there is provided a steering mechanism which includes a plate 33 that is arranged contiguous to the front surface of the dashboard 25, FIG- URE 3, and the plate 33 may be secured to the dashboard 25 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of bolts or securing elements 34. The plate 33 is provided with a slot or opening 36 that registers with a corresponding slot in the dashboard 25. The numeral 37 indicates apertured ears which project forwardly from the plate 33 and an apertured lug 33 is also secured to or formed integral with the plate 33. The numeral 39 indicates a gear box which is provided with a gear mechanism 40, and the gear mechanism 40 is shown to comprise a worm 42 which is afiixed to a steering shaft or column 41 as at 43, and the shaft 41 extends through the slots 36 and 35 and is adapted to have a steering wheel 44 on the rear end thereof. The gear box 39 is of a generally hollow or open formation so that it comprises spaced paral'lel top and bottom walls 45 and 46 as well as spaced parallel from and back walls 47 and 48, and the shaft 41 is journaled in the end walls 47 and 48.

The numeral 49 indicates a pivot pin or rod which is swivelly supported in the top and bottom walls 45 and 46, and an arm or block 52 is secured to the rod49 by means of a set screw 55. The numeral 53 indicates a pin or finger which is carried by the arm 52, and the pin 53 is urged or biased into engagement with the teeth of the worm 42 by means of a coil spring 54, FIGURE 4.

As shown in FIGURE 2 for example, a bar 56 is suitably affixed to the upper end of the rod 49.

The steering mechanism of the present invention further includes a conduit which is indicated generally by the numeral 57, and the conduit 57 includes a plurality of hollow tubular sections such as the end sections 58 as well as one or more intermediate generally straight sections 59, and the end sections 58 each have generally the same construction and each includes an arcuate or curved portion 60, FIGURE 2. The numeral 61 indicates a support piece that is secured to the end sections 58 shown at the right of FIGURE 2, and the numeral 62 indicates an L- shaped bracket which is adapted to be connected to the support piece 61 in any suitable manner as for example. by means of securing elements 63, and the bracket 62 is also adapted to be connected to the dashboard 25 by means of bolts or securing elements 64. The end section 58 shown at the left side of FIGURE 2 which will be adjacent the rear of the boat, is adapted to have a bracket 65 arranged so that the horizontal portion 66 of the bracket 65 is secured as by welding to the curved portion of the end member or section 58, and the bracket- 65 also includes an angularly arranged portion 67 which is adapted to be secured to the boat transom 27 as at 63.

Mounted on each of the end sections 58 is a tubular bushing 69 which may be secured in place by means of a set screw 70, and arranged in end to end aligned relation with respect to each b ushing69 is a tubular sleeve 71. The numeral 72 indicates a coil spring or spring member which is arranged within the adjacent end portions of the bushing 69 and sleeve 71, and the bushing 69 and sleeve 71 are adapted to be fastened to the coil spring 72 as for example by means of screw members or set screws 73. Plungers or pistons 74 are slidably or reciprocally arranged in the sleeves 71 on each end of the device as shown in FIGURE 2, and there is mounted on the outer end portion of each sleeve 71 a resilient body member or body piece 75 which may be made of a suitable material such as rubber, plastic or the like. The plunger 74 at the front portion of the steering mechanism is swivelly connected to the bar '56 by means of a coupling piece 76. The numeral 77 indicates a movable Wire which has its front end connected to the forwardly arranged plunger 74 as at 78, and this wire 77 is movably extended through the spring member 72 and the Wire 77 also is movable through the conduit 57 and the rear end of the wire 77 is suitably connected to the plunger 74 which is arranged adjacent the rear of the boat. The numeral 79 indicates a coupling element which connects the rearmost plunger 74 to a clamp or bracket 80 which is suitably connected to the movable outboard motor 28. As shown in FIGURE 1 the motor 28 is provided with the usual handle or actuating lever 81.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a steering mechanism for a boat, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that the gear box 39 is adjustably connected to the plate 33 as for example by means of the pins or bolts 82 which extend through the apertured ears 37 on the plate 33, and there is also provided an L-shaped screw member 83 which is connected to the upper portion of the back wall 48 of the gear box 39, and the screw member 83 is also connected to the lug 38 on the plate 33.

In the drawings such as in FIGURE 2, it will be seen that collars or cuplings 84 are provided for connecting adjacent ends of the sections 59 and 60 together, and the couplings 84 can be secured in place as for example by means of set screws 85.

With the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that the outboard motor 23 is adapted to be mounted on the transom 27 at the rear of the boat such as the boat 20, and the manually operable control member or steering wheel 44 is adapted to be arranged at a remote location such as contiguous to the dashboard 25, The intermediate section 59 of the conduit 57 can be suitably arranged contiguous to a side portion 86 of the boat 29.

The motor 28 is conventionally movably mounted on the transom 27 at the rear of the boat, so that for example the motor 28 can be moved from the solid line position of FIGURE 1 to the broken line position of FIG- URE l by manually gripping the handle 2? and moving the handle 29 in a clockwise direction and this movement of the boat to the broken line position of FIGURE 1 can be used as for example when the boat is approaching shallow water. In addition the motor 28 is of the type that can pivot or move about a vertical axis so that this pivotal movement of the boat about such a vertical axis can be used to provide a means for steering the boat. The boat 28 includes the usual driving prope'ller 87 and in FIGURE 2 the numeral 88 indicates a shaft which is provided for operatively connecting the propeller 87 to the engine of the motor 28, and in FIGURE 2 the numeral 89 indicates a pivot point for the motor 28 to pivot about a vertical axis, in order to permit the motor to be used for steering the boat.

The conduit 57 is adapted to remain stationary after it is installed in the boat, but the pair of plungers 74 and the wire 77 are adapted to move whereby as the steering wheel 44 is manually turned, the motor 28 can be pivoted d about the vertical axis to bring about the desired steering action.

The operation of the steering mechanism is as follows. When the steering Wheel 44 is manually rotated, the shaft 41 will be turned so as to move the worm 42, and since the pin 53 which is carried by the arm 52 is arranged in meshing engagement with the teeth of the worm 42, it will be seen that this rotation of the steering wheel 44 will cause corresponding movement of the arm 52. Since the arm 52 is connected or firmly aifixed to the pivot pin or rod 49, it will be seen that this will result in corresponding pivotal movement of the rod 49', and with the bar 56 firmly secured to the upper end of the rod 49, it will be seen that the bar 56 will be removed as the steering wheel 44 is turned, and in view of the fact that the bar 56 is connected as at 76 to the plunger 74 at the front end of the steering mechanism, it will be seen that the wire 77 which is connected to the front plunger 74 as at 78 will likewise be pushed or pulled through the conduit 57, In view of the fact that the rear end of the wire 77 is firmly affixed to the rear most plunger 74, it will be seen that this movement of the wire 77 will cause corresponding movement or" the rearmost plunger '74, and since the rear most plunger 74 is connected as at 79 to the bracket 80 which is affixed to the outboard motor 28, it will be seen that turning movement of the steering Wheel 44 will result in pivotal movement of the motor 28 about a vertical axis in order to bring about the desired steering of the boat in its proper direction.

The conduit 57 is firmly affixed in place in the boat or on the boat as for example by means of the support 62 which is fastened as at 63 to the member 61, and the member 61 is welded or otherwise secured to the curved portion 60 of the front member 58, and the bracket 62 is adapted to be secured as at 64 to the dashboard 25. Similarly the rear element 58 has the support 6'5 welded or otherwise secured thereto, and the portion 67 of the support 65 is adapted to be connected as at 68 to the transom 2,7. This construction insures that the various parts of the steering mechanism will be properly maintained in their proper aligned position relative to the other parts on the boat.

The body pieces or members 75 are adapted to be made of a suitable material such as rubber so that they exert a slight holding action on the moving plungers 74 in order to insure that the plungers and their associated parts will not accidentally move. However, when the steering wheel 44 is turned, the holding action between the resilient body pieces '75 on the plungers 74 can be overcome in order to permit the plungers and wire and their associated parts to be shifted or adjusted to the proper position or location.

The conduit 57 can be made in different lengths as desired or required, as for example the conduit can be made shorter or longer in order to fit both the different sizes or lengths as the case may be.

Instead of using a steering wheel 44 on the shaft 41, a hand knob may be connected to the shaft 41 in order to rotate the shaft 41 and bring about the desired steering action.

The provision of the couplings 84 which are detachably connected in place by means of the set screws 85 is such that these couplings 84 can be loosened and removed as for example when the effective length of the conduit is being shortened or lengthened or Otherwise regulated or varied.

The provision of the spring members 72 which extend between the bushings 69 and sleeves 7.1 are such that a flexible joint i provided between the bushings 69 and sleeves 71 in order to permit a slight flexing action to take place so that there will be no jamming or binding between the parts. For example as shown in FIGURE 8 the spring members 72 provide a flexible joint which permits the rearmost sleeve 71 and its associated parts to move from a position such as that shown in solid lines to that shown in broken lines whereby the motor 28 can be tilted from the solid line position of FIGURE 1 to the broken line position of FIGURE 1 without interference or binding.

Suitable bearings, braces, and the like can be used wherever desired or required.

The pin 53 is urged into engagement with the teeth of the worm 42 by means of the spring 54 so that the pin will remain in mesh with the teeth of the worm 4-2 under the proper tension or pressure. The position of the gear box 39 can be changed, as for example by adjusting the screw member 83 so that for example the gear box 39 can be pivoted about an axis extending through the pins 82. The members such as the members 54 and 51 on the rod 49 help maintain the rod 49 in its proper position in the gear box 39. p

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

With the present invention there is provided a construction wherein the moving parts of the steering mechanism are substantially enclosed so that fouling of the actuating cable or line 77 will be prevented.

Due to the provision of the resilient body pieces 75, after the steering wheel 44 has been moved to the desired location, the rubber like body pieces 75 will exert a slight and suflicient holding force on the piston 74 so that for example the boat can be steered in a desired course or direction without the necessity of holding tight to the steering wheel 44 since the parts will be maintained immobile in their adjusted position. The conduit 57 and the adjacent parts constitute a sheath through which the wire 77 is free to move back and forth in order to pivot the motor or engine so as to steer the boat.

The power steering mechanism of the present invention which includes the parts 39 and 40 may be used for in board and outboard motors and will provide a positive control and will permit various types of water activities such as water skiing to be more readily carried out, and with the mechanism shown in FIGURE 3, the boat at the full rate of speed will come out of a right turn the same as a left turn, and the bands can be taken 0E of the wheel on any course, and the boat will stay put. In addition, fingertip control is insured so that the boat can be steered with ease, and there is provided full and complete twelve inch throw which permits docking of the boat with ease. The unit 39 and its associated parts can be fitted on various types of steering wheels and is adjustable to all angles as for example due to the provision of the parts 37, 82, 38 and 83. The unit 39 is easy to install on all types of boats from the smallest to larger types of boats with one or more wheel stations and one or more motors from a small or relatively large size. Only a very small amount of space on the dashboard is needed, and there are no loose cables or pulleys or ropes to jam, and there will be no fouling. The construction i very rigid and utilizes a push-pull system, as previously stated.

The spring 72 shown in FIGURE 8 provides a flexible joint which is important on boats having a motor and gear box connection. The purpose of the bolt 83 is to adjust the gear box to any angle Of dashboard. The spring 54 keeps the pin 53 engaged to the full depth of the worm at all times and insures that there will be no play. The brackets such as the brackets 65 and 61 and 62 function as gussets so that the conduit or sheath or tube will not bend when pressure is applied.

The present invention has a rugged and simple construction and there is provided the flexible joints which provide flexibility at the needed points, and the present invention is easy to install. By increasing or decreasing the length of the center section 59, the device can be used on boats of dififerent lengths, and in addition an extra wheel station may be attached without using an entire separate unit. The present invention utilizes a streamlined conduit or tubing system and wire hook-up from the gear box to the motor and wherein there is provided the inside flexible joints, and the gear unit is adapted to be made small in size, and wherein the parts can be readily disassembled or assembled without requiring any complicated tools or high degree of skill.

The steering mechanism can be set so that the boat can be automatically steered in a straight course, or else the boat can be set to travel in a direction away from a straight course. The parts are constructed so that breakage and wearing out thereof will be minimized or prevented, and side play is eliminated and wherein jamming and binding will be minimized or eliminated.

All boat motors have a tremendous torque as the result of the rotation of the propeller in the water, and the larger the boat motor the more torque. The boat steering mechanism of the present invention positively eliminates all torque and this advantageou feature is unique with the present invention, and has not been accomplished by previous steering devices.

Although the invention herein described is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is not to be limited to the details of construction herein described other than as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a boat having a side wall, a dashboard, and a transom, a first rigid bracket projecting forwardly of said dashboard, a second rigid bracket projecting forwardly of said transom, a rigid hollow tube extending between said brackets and supported thereon, a bushing adjacent each end of said tube and receiving in one end thereof an adjacent portion of said tube and aflixed thereto, a coil spring having a portion adjacent one end received in the other end of said bushing and secured therein, a sleeve having an end portion circumposed about and secured to the other end of said spring, a flexible wire extending slidably through said tube, said springs, and terminating at each end within the adjacent sleeve, and a plunger adjacent each end of said tube and having a portion adjacent one end slidably mounted in the adjacent sleeve and fixedly secured to the adjacent end portion of said wire for sliding movement with said wire, one of said plungers having its other end adapted to be connected to the steering mechanism of an outboard motor when mounted on said transom and the other of said plungers having its other end adapted to be connected to a hand actuable steering mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

